Use stess model analysis moviePushing Tin - Essay Example

College: Integrated Stress Model in Pushing Tin One of the best movies, illustrating the causative factors and adverse effects of stress, is “Pushing Tin”. This classic movie shows how stress can negatively influence an affected person and people close to him or her. The movie revolves around the life of an air controller named Nick Falzone. Falzone’s occupation exerts a lot of pressure on him mostly due to the lengthy work shifts and the immense concentration required. This paper analyzes Nick Falzone’s life, as depicted in the movie, based on the integrated stress model.

Stressors It is evident that the principal source of stress in the movie for Falzone is the air traffic control job. As an air traffic controller at the TRACON in New York, Falzone’s job involves directing air traffic in a secure manner. The occupation description suggests that this is one of the most stressing jobs all over the world. This can be proven by actual practice of air traffic controllers given the fact that workers are given thirty minutes break after working for one hour or two hours before they start another shift.

The break is given to help the air controllers relieve stress, as well as, maintaining concentration of the air traffic controllers on their work. Falzone is also stressed by his competition with Russell, who is a work mate and is also very good at his work. In an unvarying effort directed to beating Russell in all sorts of things, Falzone finds himself under immense pressure and always stressed. Some of this stress is avoidable. Nevertheless, we learn from the film this kind of stress can be avoided and Falzone learns the same in the end.

The affair with Russell’s wife Mary also acts as a stressor in Falzone’s life, but the chief source of stress is the rivalry between him and Russell. Moderators Moderators refer to factors that lower or control an individual’s stress. These elements include skills, abilities, experiences and personality of the person affected by stress. Another significant moderator is family history, which is defined by a person’s familial past and current status in regard to stress. In “Pushing Tin” one of Falzone’s greatest stress moderators is his air traffic control training.

This allows him to handle stress even when he is under immense work pressure. Family is also a significant moderator in Falzone’s life, with his spouse, Connie, providing stability in his rather hectic work life. Falzone’s attitude to work cannot be overlooked for its moderating effects. He takes his job rather seriously and instead of withdrawing when pressure increases, he places himself right in the middle of the situation. He is also confident and he knows that he is excellent at his job; an aspect that enables him to remain relatively stable.

Falzone’s excellence and self-confidence imply that he is has a type A personality, and this too acts as a stress control factor before Russell comes into the picture and it becomes a source of competitiveness and jealousy. Behavioral Response Different behavioral responses patterns are depicted in the movie. Falzone’s overly self confident personality suffers a set back since he feels threatened at his job. When Russell is employed; he is under constant pressure to prove that he is better than his coworker.

This makes him develop jealousy, which is a psychology-based behavioral response. Falzone also depicts behavioral patterns of anger and insecurity when at work. He also grows immensely paranoid when he discovers that his wife knows about his affair with Russell’s wife. Even though Falzone does not suffer from physiological strains or medical conditions related to stress, he is adversely affected psychologically. His previously excellent work also suffers a major blow because he breaks rules at work and he is not as effective as he was in the past.

Work Cited IMDb. Pushing Tin. 1999. 21 October 2013.